DW that has a dog...

Jeff H

My DW and I have a dog. She is obsessed over him. I had to remove all of the food from our refrigerator and panty because she kept feeding him, excessively. Luckily, I have a refrigerator downstairs that is out of sight. My DW is obsessed with ensuring that our dog has enough water and food and goes outside. This obsessive behavior repeats throughout the day, many times only minutes apart. It's exhausting. I can handle my DW Alzheimer's, but our dog complicates it by a factor of X10!

Have any of you experienced this with your LO?

Biggles

Not to that extent but my DH constantly gives our Schnoodle bits of his food. I am over being strictly health conscious with DH’s diet so it’s whatever he wants generally unhealthy food so the dog gets bits of cake, biscuits, chocolate yikes, no matter what I say. So I have to watch him carefully. I can’t stop him so just have you be quicker than our puppy. Good luck with this, the second fridge sounds like a bonus.

harshedbuzz

@Jeff H

This is super-common in dementia.

Other posters have had to lock up all food, pet & human, to avoid unhealthy feeding or potential poisoning. Sometimes The PWD ignores important safety issues like leashing, electronic fence collars and gates which can have tragic consequences. More than a few posters have had to rehome their pets permanently or until this phase passed.

One friend of mine's mom was fixated on the cats to the point they avoided her entirely which was sad. Friend introduced a "Joy for All" robotic cat which her mom adored.

HB

Goodlife2025

This phase lasted for about nine months for us dear dog gained about 7 pounds. DW now rarely thinks to feed the dog and forgets she is getting the dog food when she is in the middle of the task. The dog is less and less in her world now.

Lethe

Oof I can relate. We have two Newfoundlands, total gentle giants. But one will eat anything off the counter. I can’t count how many times DH has lost his entire meal because he forgets the dog can reach his meal. She has gained 10 pounds in two months. He also forgets if he has fed the dogs or forgets what time they eat so feeds them twice. It is a real problem and I have no good solution, sorry. They give him such love and comfort that I just try to be as vigilant as I can.

terei

Unfortunately, I finally had to rehome my mom’s dog with other family members when it was clear mom could not be trusted to treat the dog properly. She also ignored basic hygiene regarding the dog and gave herself norovirus more than once, which was distressing for all involved.

justbreathe2

Our 15 year old dog passed a few weeks ago. Very heartbreaking for me because I took care of him. My DH wants to rescue another one. I already have too much on platter and he keeps asking me. I could not trust my DH with feeding, or taking him for a walk, so I am hoping he will forget about it.

Goodlife2025

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/268212#Comment_268212

I hope this for you as well; as tough as that sounds on the surface. Would love to add a kitten to our home but as you said right now the platter/pattern is full.